Crutch



Sept 28, 1954 lR. E. GODDARD 2,690,188

CRUTCH Filed Sep. 26, 1949 Patented Sept. 28,v 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CRUTCH Rochelle E.Goddard, Fort Worth, Tex.

Application September 26, 1949, Serial No. 117,824

2. Claims.

This invention relates to a novel crutch construction and it has particular reference to an adjustable crutch adapted for use byl persons of different heights, and its principal object resides in the provision of a longitudinally extensible crutch formed from metal tubing of different diameters and capable of telescopic association and4 xed adjustment whereby to accommodate children as well as adults.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a light weight crutch construction which is neat in appearance and has an adjustableV hand' grip capable of fixed adjustments longitudinally of the crutch, as well as radially With respect to its longitudinal axis, so that a convenient grip may be provided at any required spacing from the cross-head.

Another object of the invention is that of providing a crutch which may be compactly collapsed and carried, when not in use, in small spaces, such as when used by persons traveling in automobiles, buses, and railway trains, and which may be stored in a minimum amount of space.

Broadly, the invention contemplates the provision of a crutch of light metal construction, easily andreadily adaptable to extension or contraction to various lengths, while yet affording a sturdy and durable structure which can be safely employed by disabled persons requiring its use.

While the foregoing objects are paramount, other and lesser objects will become manifest as the description proceeds, taken in connection with the appended drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a crutch formed according to the invention, illustrating the cushioned cross-head, the adjustable hand grip, and the adjustment between the upper and lower co-axially arranged sections.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view, illustrating the cushioning springs beneath the cross-head, the adjustable hand grip, and the check member for securing the sections in longitudinally adjusted positions.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary elevational View of the lower threaded end of the upper tubular section and illustrating, in cross-section, the securing chuck by which the sections are secured in adjusted relationship.

Figure 4 illustrates a modication of the securing means in the form of a clamp for securing the sections in adjusted relationship, the lower end of the upper section being shown fragmentarily.

Figure 5 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the invention, taken on lines 5--5 of Figure 1, il-

CII

2 lustrating the springs beneath the cross-head and the adjustable hand grip.

Figure 6 fragmentarily illustrates the upper section of the crutch having a stirrup type hand gripA adjustably secured thereto, and

Figure 7 is a plan view of the stirrup type of hand grip shown in Figure 6 and illustrating the set screw attached thereto.

The invention comprises upper and lower tubulfar sections lll and II which are co-axially associated so that the lower section, which is smaller in diameter than the upper section, is slidably adjusted within the latter and is there-fore capable of extensibility with respect thereto. The lower most end of the upper section I0 is provided with slots l2, in the manner shown in Figures 3 and 4, and has a threaded portion I3 about the slots I2 in the preferred form shown in Figure 3. A checkv I4 is threaded uponv the portion I3, which isslightly tapered toward the lower end, tov draw in the sections I5 and I6 on each side of the slots I2 and cause these members to frictionally engage the lower section I I after the proper longitudinal adjustment is accomplished, thus locking the assembly in the extended adjustment and provide rigidity therefor.

This arrangement may be modied, as in Figure 4, providing a clamp assembly I1 which may be arranged upon an upper section I8, which corresponds to the section I0, whose lower end, while not threaded, is provided with opposing slots i9 resulting in sections 20 and 2l at the lower end of the member I8 and which can be urged toward each other by the clamp assembly I1 to frictionally engage the lower section I I and serve the same purpose as the member I4 threaded upon the lower end of the section I Il. The clamp assembly I'I comprises a band 22 arranged about the lower end of the member I8 and having an internally threaded block 23 arrange-d therein through which a set screw 24 is threaded, the inner end of which bears against a saddle member 25 which engages the member I8 against the pressure of the hand 22, and on the opposite side therefrom, so that when the screw 24 is threaded inwardly against the saddle member 25, the sections 20 and 2|, di-

vided by the slots I9, are caused to be drawn to- 3 the knob or grip 26 is rotated clockwise, the inner end of the screw 24 is caused to bear against the saddle member 25 to grip the surface of the upper section I to secure the latter longitudinally of the member I0 and with respect to the cross-head 28 at the top of the section i0. The hand grip in which the knob 26 is provided is illustrated indetail in Figure 5. A modified stirrup type hand grip 29 is provided which comprises a substantially U-shaped member 30, having a circular clamp 3l integral therewith and adapted to embrace the tubular upper section I0 and may be xed thereon by a set screw 32, or other suitable device. A grip bar 33 is arranged between the ends of the U-shaped member 30. The member 30 preferably curves downwardly and outwardly to provide a comfortable and convenient means for holding the assembly. This arrangement is illustrated in plan in Figure 7.

The cross-head 28 is secured to the upper end of a sleeve 34 whose lower end slidably embraces the upper end of the tubular section I0, in the manner illustrated in Figure 2. A compression spring 35 is arranged within the upper end of the section I0, and is supported at its lower end by a plug 36 therein while its upper end engages a plug 31 in the upper end of the sleeve 34 beneath the cross-head 28. Thus, when pressure is applied to the cross-head 28, the latter is cushioned by the spring 35, the sleeve 34 being capable of sliding longitudinally of the the member l0, and is prevented from rotation thereon by a screw or pin 38 arranged within a longitudinal slot 39 in the sleeve 3ft. To retain the spring 35 in proper position integral pins 40 and 4| are formed on the plugs 38 and 37, respectively, the lowermost pin t0 being shown within the spring 35 in Figure 5. A suitable tip L12 is provided at the lower end of the lower section I I.

Manifestly, the structure herein shown and described is capable of modication, from time to time, by persons skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and intent of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an extensible crutch formed in upper and lower tubular sections coaxially and slidably associated, a hand grip adjustably arranged on said upper section and comprising a knob having a band for embracing said upper section, a set screw on said knob, an interorly threaded block on said set screw within said band, and a saddle member in said band and engaged by said set screw whereby said band and said knob can be rigidly xed to said upper section when said knob is rotated.

2. In an adjustable crutch formed with upper and lower interrelated coaxially extensible sections, a hand grip secured to the upper section and comprising a knob, a band on said knob for embracing said upper section, a set screw on said knob, an internally threaded block in said band receiving said set screw, and a saddle member within said band for engaging said upper section when said knob is rotated whereby to frictionally x said knob at adjusted positions along said upper section.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 705,741 Drew July 29, 1902 725,612 Calentine Apr. 14, 1903 994,584 Flynn June 6, 1911 1,400,600 Glowacki Dec. 20, 1921 1,652,110 Fullington Dec. 6, 1927 2,373,045 Osborn Apr. 3, 1945 2,398,247 Redcliffe Apr. 9, 1946 2,480,382 Paglinso Aug. 30, 1949 

